Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Wichita, KS

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FXUS63 KICT 241844
AFDICT

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Wichita KS
144 PM CDT Sun Mar 24 2024

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Some storms this evening could be severe, especially over
  south central Kansas. The primary threats will be quarter to
  half dollar sized hail and damaging winds to around 65 mph.

- Rain may transition to snow across parts of central KS on
  Monday where up to a couple of inches may accumulate in
  Russell county in the vicinity of the I-70 corridor.

&&

.DISCUSSION...
Issued at 140 PM CDT Sun Mar 24 2024

A vigorous mid/upper trough over the Rockies is progged to emerge
over the Central Plains tonight and Monday. Ahead of this trough, a
dryline is progged to sharpen over the Southern Plains as we move
through the afternoon and into the evening hours becoming a focus
for sfc-based storms. The initial development is expected to be
mainly southwest of our area where the deeper moisture is progged.
The storms will propagate toward south central Kansas mainly after
00Z. A pocket of drier air in the pbl is progged to advect into
southwest Kansas this afternoon limiting sfc-based buoyancy
during our diurnal heating cycle with the better convergence
along the dryline likely remaining further south in western OK.
As low level moisture continues to advect northward in the warm
sector ahead of the advancing dryline we may see a very narrow
zone build into south central KS this evening where some sfc-
based supercells will remain possible in the 7pm-10pm timeframe
when dewpoints rise into the low to perhaps mid 50s. Quarter to
half dollar sized hail and wind gusts to 65 mph continue to be
the primary hazards although a brief tornado may be possible if
the narrow sfc-based corridor unfolds.

A slower eastward progression of the pacific front/dryline will keep
the more mild air in place across the forecast area tonight. Colder
air will advect into central Kansas on Monday morning where a
rain/snow mix may transition to snow under the upper low. We could
see a quick inch of snow, especially on elevated and grassy surfaces
along parts of the I-70 corridor in central KS impacting mainly
Russell and parts of Lincoln and Barton counties. The mid/upper low
will propagate northeast away from the area on Monday night with
increasing large-scale forcing for subsidence bringing an end to any
lingering light snow showers. Much colder air will overspread the
area in the wake of this system with lows falling into the 20s for
most areas early on Tue.

Much below normal temperatures will prevail early in the week as we
remain within a mean larger scale trough over the central CONUS.
Temperatures on Tue will begin to moderate by Wed while remaining
below climate normals for late March with highs in mid 50 for most
areas.

Thursday-Sunday...Rising heights/increasing thickness will support
rising temperatures across the region late in the week and into the
weekend. Highs toward the end of the period are progged to climb
into the 80s.

&&

.AVIATION /18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY/...
Issued at 1235 PM CDT Sun Mar 24 2024

Widespread MVFR cigs continue to blanket much of central and
south central Kansas early this afternoon. This area of MVFR
cigs may shrink in coverage a bit this afternoon while
prevailing for most areas ahead of an eastward advancing dryline
which is expected to sweep across the area after midnight.
Meanwhile, a cold front will bisect central Kansas during the
predawn hours on Monday with gusty northwest winds developing
in it`s wake. This cold front will make it to the Kansas
Turnpike corridor by Monday afternoon. Gusty westerly winds
will prevail in the wake of a dryline while winds shift to the
northwest behind the cold front. Low cigs and wintry
precipitation will become increasingly likely over central KS
impacting KRSL on Monday during the day.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
Issued at 140 PM CDT Sun Mar 24 2024

A very high fire danger is possible on Thursday across portions of
central Kansas and across much of the area on Friday as
relative humidity drops to 25-35% with above normal temperatures
and breezy southwest winds.

&&

.ICT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
High Wind Warning until 7 PM CDT this evening for KSZ032-033-
047>051-067-082-091.
Wind Advisory from 7 PM this evening to 10 AM CDT Monday for
KSZ032-033-047>051-067-082-091.
Wind Advisory until 10 AM CDT Monday for KSZ052-053-068>072-
083-092>096-098>100.

&&

$$

DISCUSSION...MWM
AVIATION...MWM
FIRE WEATHER...MWM


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